While some people’s real estate searches revolve around grand views, extra bathrooms, or ample storage, Los Angeleno Todd Stevens’s was focused on something outside the house: kayaking. Though he had found some good spots in Southern California over the years, his commute time to the water was long, so he started looking for a place to build a getaway that would provide better proximity to water. “By 2000, I was dream-searching real estate sites, looking for places near good kayaking,” Todd says.

Soon, he and his wife came across Washington’s San Juan Islands, an archipelago of more than 170 islands on the state’s northwest coast, edging the Canadian border. Looking at the four islands in the grouping that had ferry service, Todd narrowed his search and landed on Lopez Island, the third largest in the San Juans, which is known for its laid-back lifestyle and quiet pace. Of course, it was the kayaking that brought Todd and his wife there, but also “the fact that it’s so beautiful and peaceful,” he adds.

At first, Todd and his wife purchased a site on the south side of the island, envisioning a kayaking crash pad. But then the pandemic shifted their thinking, and, deciding to relocate to the island full-time, they found a larger, sunnier parcel on the northern side with a flat meadow where they could build something bigger than they originally intended.

For the kayak crash pad idea, the couple had engaged Lopez Island architect Nitsan Yomtov, who sketched up three separate structures connected by a breezeway. Then, once the new site came into play, Yomtov stuck to that idea but expanded the square footage. “The home is an archipelago, a cellular arrangement of structures,” he says of the design approach, which requires going outside to travel between different zones of the house. “People who live here tend to want to be outside—they appreciate the environment and outside pursuits, so this was an opportunity to work with that.”

The three structures are arranged like a string of pearls along the site, with the southernmost holding the sleeping area. A screened porch connects it with the dining and food prep area, which also contains a bathroom and sauna with their own entrance. The third structure holds an art studio, which provides the couple with a place to be creative. “The owners also wanted flexibility within these spaces, so the studio can convert to an office or an exercise space or even a guest space,” adds Yomtov. “It allows their home to evolve with them.”

The art space has a writing desk and built-in maple shelving, also by Island Custom Woodworks. “The studio has turned out to be the perfect guest space—a little motel-style room,” says homeowner Todd Stevens. “It sits on the meadow and looks into the woods. It’s beautiful.”" layout="bleed" credit="Photo by Taj Howe" photoUserId=""/>

Besides allowing for more access to the outdoors, the linear arrangement of spaces provides privacy for the central living zone, which is buffered on either side by the accompanying buildings. The buildings are connected via raised boardwalks, mirrored by large overhangs originally intended to provide coverage for kayak storage. “I thought I’d store the boats under them in the winter, but once we moved here, I bought a little Toyota van so I can keep the boat and gear ready to go,” explains Todd. “On a good day, I don’t have to load anything—I just head out.”

“The home is an archipelago, a cellular arrangement of structures.”
—Nitsan Yomtov, architect

Throughout, Yomtov kept the material palette simple and tried to rely on as many local tradespeople as possible for ease of construction on the island. The decking is thermally modified wood, meaning the moisture has been extracted on a cellular level to make it more weather resistant, important in the Pacific Northwest’s often rainy weather. Dark-stained cedar siding complements light maple casework and flooring inside. “We wanted that contrast and duality between the interior and exterior finishes,” explains Yomtov.

Ultimately, the home’s informal nature fits with the easygoing vibe on Lopez. “It’s much more casual than the other ferry-served islands,” explains Yomtov. “I always say that everybody’s ‘nice’ clothes on Lopez are their work clothes that are the least stained and dirty,” he laughs.

For Todd, this laid-back feeling is what he appreciates about Lopez, and their new home. “We love the peacefulness, the quiet, the sense of being tucked away,” he explains. “At the house, there’s not too much direct sunlight in summer and plenty of brightness on the darkest days—it’s easy to appreciate this home all the time.”

This Remote Orcas Island Getaway Was Constructed Without Removing a Single Tree

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Ets Architecture / @etsarchitecture

General Contractor: Ascent Building Company

Structural Engineer: Isbell Consulting Engineers

Cabinetry Fabrication: Island Custom Woodworks

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They Built a Kayaking Crash Pad That Mimics the Famed Archipelago It Sits On